Part One: FEAR OR FREEDOM?
His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness…” 2 Peter 1:3
It is not uncommon for me to encounter grandparents who feel inadequate and wholly unable to relate to the younger generations, especially teens. They often describe a paralyzing fear that restricts talking about difficult topics and inhibits the release of God’s transformational power in and through them. While most of us can relate to feelings of inadequacy, allowing those feelings to detain us from proactive involvement is tantamount to saying that we don’t believe God.
If God, through His divine power, has given us EVERYTHING we need for life and godliness, then is it not a sin to believe otherwise? Everything does not mean we know everything or “get it” with regard to digital technology and trends that are probably second nature for our grandchildren. It does mean that God has already given us everything we need to live godly lives in which we meaningfully engage with our culture as conduits of His grace and power. That’s a fact that we as grandparents must embrace and act upon. God has given us what we need to impact our grandchildren’s and our neighbors’ lives.
The practical implications of this truth – that we who are in Christ already have EVERYTHING we need – removes both the fear of adversity and the pressure to change others, including our grandchildren. Instead, we may now rest in the knowledge that God has supplied all the tools we need to live effective and productive godly lives. But what does that really mean?
That is what this series will explore. It’s called Plugged In: Divinely Powered for Life. We will explore together how we are now free to be Christ’s agent of blessing for another generation. It begins with a choice: to believe what God says and live in the power of knowing that His divine power is sufficient (which is so freeing), or to choose to live in fear and powerlessness. Fear or freedom—which will you choose?
GRANDPAUSE: “A man was meant to be doubtful about himself, but undoubting about truth.” G. K. Chesterton
I became comfortable with teenagers when I was hired to be a Parish Youth Director many years ago. A good way to establish rapport with teens is to first congratulate or affirm them in whatever you’ve learned from their parents recently about any success they’ve had in life….any tiny little thing at all. And then ask them questions about themselves….their lives, being sure to listen attentively to what they have to say. That usually opens up an easy flowing conversation. When you’ve shown sincere interest in their lives, then it becomes easier to say, “ Are you having any particular challenges that you’d like me to pray about for you? I’m happy to do that.” With these tips, see how it goes!
Wow! This is powerful.
I love your thought, “If God, through His divine power, has given us EVERYTHING we need for life and godliness, then is it not a sin to believe otherwise? Everything does not mean we know everything or “get it” with regard to digital technology and trends that are probably second nature for our grandchildren. It does mean that God has already given us everything we need to live godly lives in which we meaningfully engage with our culture as conduits of His grace and power. That’s a fact that we as grandparents must embrace and act upon. God has given us what we need to impact our grandchildren’s and our neighbors’ lives.”
It reminds me of something Pastor Philip De Courcy said about God’s grace in our lives through prayer, “God is not going to find fault with our prayers, big or small. Therefore we are not to be afraid to boldly ask God for those things we know to be within His will (Heb. 4:14-16). After all, He is a God of overflowing goodness, and mercy (Psa. 23:5; 145:7)! A God who can do more than we think, and give more than we ask (Eph. 3:20-21)! Although our asking must be marked by unwavering trust (James 1:5-8); right motives (James 4:1-3); confession of sin (James 5:16); righteous living (James 5:16); and deep-seated earnestness (James 5:17). This is the kind of praying that accomplishes much” ([Link deleted]
Thank you for this excellent article!
Thank you, Greg. God can, and wants, to more than we can ask or imagine, doesn’t He?
God bless.